Bangkok--21 Jun--Thai Airways Mr. Wallop Bhukkanasut, THAI’s Executive Vice President for Commercial Department, organized “THAI’s Commercial Conference: Industry at the Crossroads” during 19-22 June 2007, during which the opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Chaisak Saeng-Xuto, THAI’s Member of the Board of Directors, Flg. Off. Apinan Sumanaseni, THAI’s President, and members of THAI’s Management. Mr. Wallop Bhukkanasut, THAI’s Executive Vice President for Commercial Department, said that THAI’s Commercial Conference for the year 2007 was held under the theme “Industry at the Crossroads.” The conference was attended by managers and staff under THAI’s Commercial Department, including attendance by over 200 people from sales offices in Thailand and overseas, in order to establish the company’s commercial and sales strategy for year 2008. This is of particular importance for the highly competitive industry of airline business. As THAI’s Commercial Department is the company’s leading profit-making unit, in such a competitive market, it is pertinent for the department to make continuous adjustments and come up with new strategic developments, in order to remain competitive, including preparations to be on the alert for various world crises. Today (20 June 2007), during the opening ceremony, the Spirit of Excellence Award will be presented to THAI’s Sales Offices that have displayed superior performance in achieving the highest levels of profitability for the company. In addition, THAI’s Commercial Conference invited four experienced speakers from the international aviation business to share their knowledge about the airline business, business management in the face of various crises, in order for business to survive and continue to thrive, those being: - Mr. Andrew Herdman, Director General of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) - Mr. Datuk Idris Jala, Managing Director of Malaysian Airlines - Mr. Damian Hickey, Vice President Airline Business Group, Asia Pacific - Mr. Randy Petersen, Editor of InsideFlyer During 21-22 June, THAI’s Commercial Department will hold internal meetings, which will be attended by managers and staff under the department, from THAI’s sales offices in Thailand and overseas, including those from related functions within the Commercial Department. During the internal meetings, employees will receive information and brainstorm with various functions under the Commercial Department, in order to create flexibility and work fluidity, which will be used towards further development of services beneficial to passengers, accordingly. In previous years, THAI’s Commercial Department made product and service related developments, such as introduction of new destinations, the newest being service to the company’s 75th destination Johannesburg, South Africa, thereby allowing THAI to operate to all 5 continents: Asia, Australia, Europe. North America, and Africa. Other development included code-share agreements with member airlines under Star Alliance and other world leading air carriers, introduction of new tour packages by THAI’s Royal Orchid Holidays in-house tour operator, and mileage programs offered by THAI’s Royal Orchid Plus frequent flyer program, various promotional deals such as Value Plus Card, and business alliances in the area of airline cooperation with various credit card brands. This conference will enable the company to further strengthen and develop its products and services to continually improve passengers’ travel experiences, which is pertinent in today’s highly competitive airline industry.